Wells, Rios homer as Blue Jays beat Orioles 4-3

May 3, 2009 - 8:43 PM
TORONTO(AP) -- Scott Richmond is giving the Toronto Blue Jays a
lot more than they expected from their fifth starter.

Richmond worked seven innings, Vernon Wells and Alex Rios backed
him with home runs and the Toronto Blue Jays completed a
three-game sweep by beating Baltimore 4-3 Sunday. The Orioles
lost their sixth in a row.

Richmond (4-0) won his fourth straight start, allowing two
earned runs and five hits in seven innings, matching a career
high. He walked two and struck out six.

Just two years removed from pitching in the independent Northern
League, Richmond's consistency is making a big difference to the
AL East-leading Blue Jays, whose rotation has been shredded by
injuries to Jesse Litsch and Ricky Romero and a poor April by
David Purcey, who was demoted to Triple-A on Friday.

"Right now (Richmond) is pitching nowhere near like a No. 5
starter," catcher Rod Barajas said. "He's our No. 2 guy. He goes
out there every single game and gives us an opportunity to win
and he shuts teams down. We weren't sure if we were going to
have a No. 2 guy like that after Litsch went down. The way he's
stepped up, the way he's pitched for us, it's something that we
desperately needed."

Richmond, who lowered his ERA to 2.67, has not allowed more than
three earned runs in any of his 10 major league starts,
including five in 2008.

"I'm happy I'm contributing, I'm happy I'm pitching well,"
Richmond said. "I'm so focused out there. We're doing so great.
These guys are hitting so well and playing unbelievable defense,
I've got to do my job."

"As hitters, we make a living at hitting balls that are up in
the zone, out over the plate and there wasn't really that much
today," Scott said.

Jesse Carlson worked the eighth and Scott Downs, pitching in his
third straight game, closed it out for his third save.

Toronto won its AL-high 18th game and matched the 18-9 start
made by its 1992 World Series-winning team, the best in team
history.

"It's been great," said Barajas, who was 2-for-3 with an RBI and
has gone 10-for-17 in his past four games. "This is what we
wanted, this is what we expected and we need to keep it going."

The Orioles have lost 14 of 17 following a 6-2 start. Baltimore
is 0-12 this season when scoring fewer than five runs, and the
frustration has started to show. Orioles manager Dave Trembley
was ejected in the fifth for arguing a called third strike on
Aubrey Huff.

Trembley was asked whether he'd considered calling a team
meeting to snap the Orioles out of their skid.

"We'll think about it on the plane (to Tampa)," Trembley said.
"I think these guys are mature enough. No one likes losing but
we've lost in a variety of ways. A lot of people are frustrated
with it but we'll channel our disappointment in a more positive
way."

Jeremy Guthrie (2-2) allowed six hits in eight innings, his
second career complete game. He walked one and struck out three.

Wells hit a two-run homer to left in the first. Baltimore tied
it on Scott's two-run shot to right in the second.

Toronto went ahead 3-2 on Barajas' RBI double in the fourth, but
his throwing error allowed Cesar Izturis to score from second on
Nick Markakis' infield single in the fifth, tying it at 3.

Toronto took the lead for good in the fifth when Rios hit a solo
shot into the second deck in left, his second.

Trembley was ejected after Huff struck out looking to end the
fifth, stranding Markakis at second. Huff slammed his bat,
helmet and shin guard down as he walked away from the plate and
Trembley was tossed after coming out to argue the call.

Trembley said he was told he was ejected for arguing balls and
strikes but denied arguing about that, saying he only went out
to protect Huff, who was given an equipment violation. The
ejection was Trembley's second of the season and eighth of his
career.

Notes: Toronto 3B Scott Rolen made a diving catch on Brian
Roberts' liner in the seventh. ... Baltimore has lost 10 of 12
against the Blue Jays dating to last season. ... Trembley said
LHP George Sherrill's job as closer is no longer secure after
Sherrill blew his second save of the season Saturday. Trembley
said he will decide "day by day" who to use in save situations.
Sherrill was an All-Star last season, saving 31 games. ...
Baltimore placed RHP Dennis Sarfate (circulatory problem) on the
15-day disabled list, retroactive to May 2, and recalled RHP Bob
McCrory from Triple-A Norfolk. ... Orioles OF Luis Montanez
(sore right thumb) was held out of the lineup after injuring his
hand making a sliding catch Saturday. Trembley said Montanez
could play Monday at Tampa Bay.

ALAT TORONTO - SCORING UPDATETWO-RUN HOME RUN BY VERNON WELLS (4) TO LEFT WITH 2 OUT IN THE 1ST OFF JEREMY GUTHRIE SCORED ALEX RIOS.CURRENT SCORE: BALTIMORE 0, TORONTO 2DUE UP FOR TORONTO: A LIND (.320, 5 HR, 23 RBI)